Labeling apparatus

ABSTRACT

The labeling apparatus has a source of labels, a gripping turret with mechanical gripping elements that withdraw labels from the label source and fly the labels against the glue retaining surface of a gluing drum, en route to apply the labels to containers. The mechanical grippers are so arranged as to grip only the leading edges of the labels. There is a space between the glue drum and the gripper turret so that label portions trailing their gripped leading edges fly in said space in unsupported relation to the turret. Optional air jet nozzles may blow the flying label portions against the glue drum. The glue drum is provided directly with a doctor blade which spreads glue onto a uniform film on the drum. The drum is provided with recesses to receive the mechanical gripping elements below the glue drum surfaces as the gripping elements sweep past the drum.

Unite States Patent [1 1 Kronseder 45] Apr. 24,1973

1 LABELING APPARATUS [76] Inventor: Hermann Kronseder, Berliner Str.

10, Neutraubling, Germany [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1970 21 Appl. No.: 74,405 i [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 4, 1969 Germany ..P 19 50 149.6

[52] US. Cl. ..1l8/62, 118/203, 118/231,

- 1 18/261 [51] lnt. Cl. ..B05c 1/02, B05c 11/12 [58] Field of Search ..1 18/62, 203, 231, 118/261, 249, 204, 244; 101/246, 409; 271/53; 156/568 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,379,601 4/1968 Pagay ..l56/568 1,223,516 4/1917 Peters et al. v ..1 18/231 X 3,497,412 2/1970 Feurstein et al. v ..l18/231 X 3,565,035 2/1971 Burgess et a1. ..1 18/62 3,589,331 6/1971 Westervelt 1 18/62 OTHER PUBLICATIONS German Printed Application, Auslegeschrift-l ,091 O30, Jagenberg, 10/60, West Germany.

Primary Examiner-J0hn P. McIntosh AtmmeyWheeler, House & Wheeler 57 ABSTRACT The labeling apparatus has a source of labels, a

gripping turret with mechanical gripping elements that withdraw labels from the label source and fly the labels against the glue retaining surface of a gluing drum, en route to apply the labels to containers. The mechanical grippers are so arranged as to grip only the leading edges of the labels. There is a space between the glue drum and the gripper turret so that label portions trailing their gripped leading edges fly in said space in unsupported relation to the turret. Optional airjet nozzles may blow the flying label portions against the glue drum. The glue drum is provided directly with a doctor blade which spreads glue onto a uniform film on the drum. The drum is provided with recesses to receive the mechanical gripping elements below the glue drum surfaces as the gripping elements sweep past the drum.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures LABELING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Devices are known in which grippers have been used to pick labels from glued label transfer palettes which have previously withdrawn the labels from a label source and to apply theglued labels to containers. Other devices are known in which the grippers sweep labels past the surface of a glued drum and thence against the containers. However, these devices typically have mechanical pressing members which physically press the label against the glue transfer surface under positive pressure. This can result in unwanted transfer of glue from the drum or palette to the gripping turret. Moreover, the label tends to adhere too tightly to the glue transfer surface after it has been pressed thereagainst. The labels may be damaged as the grippers peel or otherwise force removal of the labels from the glue transfer surface. This removal must be done slowly, to avoid such damage, thus limiting the speed of operation ofthe labeling machine.

Prior art devices typically apply the glue to the glue transfer surface in stages, rather than directly. This frequently results in an uneven distribution of glue on the glue transfer surface and the development of glue threads and uneven glue spots.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention the label is gripped only at its leading edge and label portions trailing the gripped leading edges fly in unsupported relation to the turret. The label is flown past the glue transfer surface and kisses it or contacts it lightly without the positive pressure of a pressing pad. Thus the label is not so tightly adhered to the glue transfer surface that any damage is done to it in the course of removing it therefrom. The gluing drum has recesses aligned with the mechanical gripping elements on the turret so that the gripping elements do not contact the glued surfaces of the drum. The gripping turret and glued drum are spaced apart. Accordingly, no part of the gripping turret is pressed against the gluing drum and there is no transferof glue from the gluing drum to the gripping turret which would foul subsequent action of the parts. Glue is transferred to the label on the fly. The attraction of the glue on the drum to the label and the centrifugal force applied to the label is relied upon primarily to lightly press the label against theglue transfer surface and apply a glue film to the label. Contact of the label with the glue drum is very light and there is little resistance to peeling the label off of the glue drum.

Optionally, air nozzles can be provided to blow the trailing portions of thelabel against the glue drum to provide a light yielding pressure to facilitate transfer of a glue film to the label.

A doctor blade is applied directly to the gluing drum to insure the development of a uniformfilm' of glue on the drum. Where the drum has peripheral grooves, thus to apply the glue to the label in bands, this doctor blade is provided with projecting tongues which will fit into the peripheral grooves in the drum to clear the grooves of glue. The grooves are aligned with the gripping elements to receive these elements beneath the drum periphery, thus to avoid pressing the gripping elements against the glued surface of the drum.

Alternatively, the drum is provided with a continuous surface with socket-type recesses to receive the gripping elements and a straight edge doctor blade. This surface applies an over-all film of glue to the label. The sockets are provided with retractable plungers which are projected to beflush with the periphery of the drum as the drum passes the doctor blade. The plungers are retracted to expose the sockets to the gripping elements as the sockets pass the gripping elements, thus to insure that no glue is transferred to the gripping elements.

It is a distinct advantage to have the doctor blade directly contact the surface of the glue drum, thus to prevent the glue film from having uneven spots, threads, etc. This is particularly important in the present invention in which the pressure of the light weight of the flying label is relied upon primarily .to transfer glue from the drum to the label. The development of uneven glue spots might otherwise result in spotty application of the glue to the label.

The glue doctor blade of the present invention is novel, per se, in that it incorporates at its head end the glue nozzle'by which glue is applied directly to the gluing drum, without need for intermediate transfer rollers or the like.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of the general layout of labeling apparatus in which the invention can be incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side view of a label feeder and gripper turret.

FIG. 3 is a side view ofa peripherally grooved gluing drum and a fragment of the gripping turret adjacent and in spaced relation thereto.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3, portions being broken away to expose interior details.

FIG. 5 is a side view similar to FIG. 3, but showing a modified embodiment of the gluing drum in which peripheral grooves are replaced by sockets.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 5, portions being broken away to expose interior details.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Although the disclosure hereof is detailed and exact to enable those skilled in the art to practicethe invention, the physical embodiments herein disclosed merely exemplify the invention which may be embodied in other specific structure. The scope of the invention is defined in the claims appended hereto.

Containers such as bottles 31 are fed by conveyor 1 past a spacing worm 3 into a turning star wheel 2 which feeds the containers onto a labeling turret 6 which rotates on its axle 24 in the direction of the arrow. Discrete pre-cut labels 13, 13a on the label grippers or turrets 7, 7a are applied to the containers 31 which subsequently leave the labeling turret 6 via an exit star wheel 5. Labels 13 are body labels, and labels 13a are neck labels. They are stored in label magazines 12, 12a. Guide 4 retains the containers 31 in the star wheels 2, 5 as the containers negotiate the turns between conveyor 1 and turret 6.

The gripper turrets 7, 7a rotate on shaft 22. The rotary label feeders 10, 10a have peripheral grooves 14 which align with the mechanical gripping fingers 16 to admit the fingers for picking up the labels. As is conventional in mechanism of this type, the control of the suction applied to the labels through the ports 15 is coordinated with the mechanism which mechanically actuates the gripper 16. Typically the grippers 16 are mounted on shafts 17 having cranks 18 which carry cam follower rollers 20 which rotate on roller shafts 19 and roll on the periphery of a cam plate 21 to open and close the fingers 16 with respect to anvils 25, thusto effectuate a smooth transfer of the labels from the rotary label feeders 10, 10a to the gripper turrets 7, 7a.

Each set of grippers 16 cooperates with a corresponding set of anvils 25. The grippers engage only the leading edges of the labels 13, 13a, as is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. The anvils 25 have their heads spaced radially outwardly from the peripheral surface of the pads 29 which define the periphery of the gripper turret. Accordingly, those portions of the labels which trail their gripped leading edges fly in unsupported relation to the gripping turret.

Gripper turrets 7, 7a rotate in spaced proximity to rotating glue drum 8. The glue carrying periphery of the drum 8 is spaced materially from the surface of the pads 29 on turrets 7, 7a so that the pads do not press the labels against the glue carrying surfaces of the drums 8. The pads 29 limit the flapping of the labels but do not exert any mechanical pressure against the labels and do not come close enough to the gluing drum 8 to pick up any glue therefrom.

As the gripping turrets 7, 7a pass the gluing drum 8 the attraction of the glue on the drum for the labels and centrifugal force which urges the flying labels centrifugally from the turrets 7, 7a, will press the flying labels lightlyagainst the drum, thus to effectuate the transfer of a uniform glue film from the drum 8 to the label. An optional feature is to provide air jet nozzles 28, 28a to blow a stream of air against the flying labels and hence assist in pressing them under light air pressure against the glued surface of the glue drum 8.

As aforestated, the light pressing thus achieved does not stick the labels tightly against the glue transfer surface of drum 3. Accordingly, the continued rotation of turrets 7, 7a easily peels the label from the drum at high speed and with little or no risk of tearing the label or dislodging it from the grasp of the gripper fingers 16.

Great care is exercised to make sure that no part of the gripping turrets 7, 70 picks up any glue from the gluing drum 8. The spacing of the glue drum 8 from the gripping turrets 7, 7a and the utilization of the flying label technique keeps the pads 29 from picking up any glue. To preclude transfer of any glue to the mechanical grippers 16, the glue drum 8 is provided with recesses which align with the grippers and which receive the grippers out of contact with the glue surface. Means are also provided to prevent glue contamination of said recesses. In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, peripheral grooves 32 are provided in the drum 8, and these grooves align fingers l6 and the rotation of the drum 8 is such that these sockets 40 rotate in time with the grippers 16, thus to receive the fingers 16 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

It is a matter of considerable importance to the present invention that the gluing drum 8 have a uniform glue film thereon. Otherwise the light pressure of the flying label might not result in an even coating of glue on the label. For this purpose a doctor blade 33 is applied directly to the surface of drum 8 and the glue is injected onto .the drum surface through a nozzle 35 mounted at the head or top of the doctor blade 33. Glue is supplied to the nozzle 35 through a hose 36 and there is an internal port 37 in nozzle 35 by which the glue is injected from nozzle 35 onto the surface of the drum 8.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 the means to prevent glue contamination of the grooves comprises provision on the doctor blade 33 projecting tongues 34 which fit into the grooves 32 to exclude glue-from these grooves and prevent glue contamination of the gripping fingers 16. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6 such means comprises provision in each socket 40 of a plunger 9 mounted on a shaft 26 which has a roller 27 in contact with a cam 30. Springs (not shown) tend to retract the plungers 9 so that when the roller 27 is on a low lobe of cam 30 when the socket comes opposite the gripping fingers 16 the plungers 9 will withdraw into the socket 40, thus leaving ample room for the socket 40 to receive the gripping fingers as shown at the left in FIG. 6. However, when the socket 40 comes opposite the doctor blade 33 the roller 27 rides up on a high lobe of the cam 30 and projects its plunger 9 to be flush with the outer surface of the glue drum 8. Accordingly, the plungers block the sockets and prevent the doctor blade 33 from pushing glue into the socket 40. Ac cordingly, the plunger mechanism prevents glue contamination of the socket and precludes subsequent transfer of glue to the fingers .16.

The high speed method by which the aforedescribed apparatus applies a coating of glue to the label can be summarized as comprising the steps of gripping the leading edge of the label while leaving the trailing label portion free to fly, swinging the gripped label on an are past a gluing. surface to fly the trailing portion of the label against the gluing surface whereby the label will be urged under light pressure against the gluing surface and withdrawing the glued label from the gluing surface for subsequent application thereof to a container.

I claim:

ii. In labeling apparatus having a gripping turret with mechanical gripping fingers projecting therefrom, a gluing drum having a doctor blade in direct contact withthe gluing drum, recesses in said drum in alignment with the gripping fingers to receive said fingers below the drum surface as the gripping turret rotates past the drum, said gripping fingers gripping the leading edges of discrete pre-cut labels to leave trailing portions of the discrete pre-cut labels free to fly in unsupported relation as they are swept against the drum, and means to prevent glue contamination of said recesses.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the recesses comprise peripheral grooves in the drum, said means comprising projecting tongues on the doctor blade which fit into grooves to clear excess glue from the grooves.

face of the drum and said plungers.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the doctor blade is provided at its top with a glue supply nozzle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the gripping turret is provided with air nozzles which jeta stream of air against the flying label portions to urge these portions against the glue drum. 

1. In labeling apparatus having a gripping turret with mechanical gripping fingers projecting therefrom, a gluing drum having a doctor blade in direct contact with the gluing drum, recesses in said drum in alignment with the gripping fingers to receive said fingers below the drum surface as the gripping turret rotates past the drum, said gripping fingers gripping the leading edges of discrete pre-cut labels to leave trailing portions of the discrete pre-cut labels free to fly in unsupported relation as they are swept against the drum, and means to prevent glue contamination of said recesses.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the recesses comprise peripheral grooves in the drum, said means comprising projecting tongues on the doctor blade which fit into grooves to clear excess glue from the grooves.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which said recesses comprise sockets in the drum, said means comprising plungers within said sockets and means for retracting said plungers when the sockets pass the gripping fingers to receive the fingers below the drum surface and for advancing said plungers to be flush with the drum surface when the sockets pass the doctor blade, said doctor blade having a straight edge in contact with the surface of the drum and said plungers.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the doctor blade is provided at its top with a glue supply nozzle.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the gripping turret is provided with air nozzles which jet a stream of air against the flying label portions to urge these portions against the glue drum. 